Crutch.



J. C. PETTINGILL.

CRUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 1916.

1,209,997. 00 Patented Dec.26,1916.

i9 "if- L G JAMES C. PETTINGILL, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS.

CRUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 255, 1916.

Application filed June 20, 1916. Serial No. 104,734.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LJAMns C. PETTINGILI), a citizen of the United States, residing at Hyde Park, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Crutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in crutches, and has for its principal object to generally improve the construction of devices of this character whereby they may be adjusted to various sizes, and whereby they may be disassembled when desired.

The invention consists in the provision of a crutch of the well known type, that is, one embodying a staff, side arms, an upper arm rest, and a hand grip, all of which parts may be readily disassembled, while certain of the same, notably, the staff and hand grip are adjustable relatively to the side arms, whereby the crutch may be adapted for use by various persons.

It is another object of this invention, therefore to so construct the crutch, by providing novel connecting means between the various parts of the same, that it may be adjusted or disassembled in a minimum of time and with but slight labor.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crutch constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary inner face view of one of the side arms. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of one end of the hand grip; and Fig. 1 is a detail perspective showing the connection between the arm rest and the side arms.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 and 2 designate the side arms of the crutch which extend in parallel spaced relation throughout a major portion of their length and which are connected at their upper ends by an arm rest 3, the lower ends of said arms being bent inwardly toward one another to snugly receive therebetween the staff or leg 4. This staff or leg is provided with a plurality of spaced transversely extending openings 5, any numher of which are adapted to receive the bolts 6 which are passed through openings in the side arms and have nuts 7 threaded thereon whereby the leg may be locked between the arms. It will thus be obvious that by removing the bolts the leg may be adjusted vertically of the side arms to any desired position, and may then be locked in such position by reinserting the bolts and applying the nuts thereto. The lower end of the leg is preferably provided with the tip or cushion 8 for the well known, purpose.

intermediate their ends and upon their inner faces throughout a portion of their length, the side arms 1 and 2 are cut away as at 9, and these cut away portions are covered by plates 10 secured to the arms in any preferred manner. Each of these plates has formed therein a plurality of spaced elongated openings 11, the openings of one plate being alined with those of the other.

The hand grip 12 is provided at its ends with studs 13 which have their outer ends arranged in spaced relation to the ends of thegrip and provided with elongated heads 14 of a size to permit of their ready insertion through the openings 11. Thus, by alining the heads with any pair of openings and by slightly springing the side arms apart the hand grip may be removed or applied to the crutch, as will be understood, it being also understood that after inserting the heads through the openings the grip is slightly rotated to cause the heads to engage the inner faces of the plates to prevent its removal, the cut away portions 9 serving to accommodate the heads when the grip isiin applied position. By this arrangement the hand grip may be quickly and easily adjusted vertically of the crutch when desired, it being merely necessary to disengage the studs from one set of openings and apply them in others.

The arm rest 3 is provided with openings 15 to receive the upper ends of the arms 1 and 2, and in order to retain the upper ends of the arms in these openings catch members 16 are provided which are pivoted to the side arms and which have slotted right angular extensions 17 for engagement with pins 18 carried by the rest. If desired these pins may be in the form of screws whereby the catch members may be locked positively in any operative position by merely tight ening the screws after the rest has been applied.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the crutch may be adjusted to accommodate the same to various uses, and that it may be readily disassembled when desired.

While I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention it will be apparent that slight changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the same, and, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the structure herein shown, except for such limitations as the claims may import.

What is claimed is l. A crutch including side members, and a hand grip member, one of said members having studs projecting therefrom, said studs terminating in elongated heads, the other member having elongated openings formed therein to permit the heads of the H studs to be passed therethrough, the stud carrying member being adopted for rotation after the heads have been passed through the openings to lock the members together.

2. A crutch including a side member and an arm rest member, a latch pivoted to one of said'members, and a pin carried by the other member, said latch being bent intermediate its ends to provide a substantially right angular extension for engagement with said pin, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, JAMES C. PETTINGILL.

WVitnesses:

J OHN B. HOLT, EDITH M. HOLT Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

